The Board The Pieces The King The Queen The Rook The Bishop
The Knight The Pawn Check Checkmate Draws Notation
Opening Middlegame Endgame Castling En passant Promotion
Interpose Pinning Opposition Zugswang Chess Clock General Rules
 

 

The Queen
 

Typical Staunton Queen wood piece used in a game of Chess (Fig. 1).  The Queen is the most powerful major piece on the Chessboard after the King.

 

Staunton wood white Chess Queen piece

Fig. 1



The following graphic shows white and black Chess Queen figures (Fig. 2). These pieces are widely used in diagrams to illustrate games, positions, and Chess problems.

 

Chess Queen figures

Fig. 2

 

This diagram (Fig. 3) shows the position both Queens have at the beginning of the game. It is very important to place the two pieces in their proper square as shown in the below graphic.

Queens initial position

Fig. 3
 

The Queen can move up, down, left, right and diagonally as many squares it wishes provided they are not occupied by an enemy or friendly piece (Fig. 4 & 5). If placed in the center of the board, a Queen can control up to 27 squares.


White Queen's movement

Fig. 4

Black Queen's movement

Fig. 5
 

The moving proprieties of the Queen can emulate those of the King, Rooks, Bishops and Pawns but not the Knights as shown in the graphic below with red marks (Fig. 6 & 7).


White Queen cannot move as a Knight

Fig. 6

 

Black Queen cannot move as a Knight

Fig. 7

 
 

When a Queen is blocked by a friendly piece (Rook) as shown in Fig. 8 & 9, it cannot move to the square occupied by the Rook nor the squares that lie beyond marked with two red "X's".

White Queen cannot move to marked squares

Fig. 8


Black Queen cannot move to marked squares

Fig. 9

 

Queen can capture the opponent's Knight by removing it from the board and placing itself on the square but cannot move beyond the Knight (Fig. 10 & 11).


White Queen can capture the black Knight

Fig. 10


Black Queen can capture the white Knight

Fig. 11
 
 

The following Applet lets you try an interactive feeling to practice the Queen's moves and capture. Just place the cursor over the white Queen piece, press the left button of your mouse, and drag the Queen to the cell you wish and release it. The computer (black pieces) will move next. This position should end in a draw after both Pawns are captured.


White to move

Refresh

More about the Queen

The Queen moves an arbitrary number of squares in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal direction, but may not move over occupied squares unless it makes a capture.

Queen takes (captures) in the same way as she moves.

Do not develop the Queen too early during a game as she may be attacked and forced to retreat.

Because the Queen is so powerful, she must always avoid capture.

The relative numeric value of the Queen is 9 points.


 

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